Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
The City of Lyons has completed a number of improvements at Freres Park in time for warmer weather and the summer recreation season.
Visitors and locals will notice a new picnic shelter, pathways and improvements to the parking lot and stormwater drainage.
This is in addition to a new vault toilet installed in 2022, and a restocking of fish in the ponds including the ponds bluegill, pumpkinseed, and largemouth bass.
City Manager Micki Valentine said these improvements, which cost almost $320,000, would not have been possible without COVID relief dollars and a grant from Freres Lumber.
“This type of project is normally out-of-reach for our small town without opportunities such as the ARPA funding, grants, and donations,” said Valentine. “We are tremendously grateful that we received the funding to make this improvement come to fruition.”
The City Council approved a list of park improvements in February of 2022 with support from a $286,524 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.
Later in 2022, the city also received a $30,500 grant from the Freres Foundation which was dedicated toward the project.
Work on the vault toilets and parking lot began in summer of 2022.
As construction costs rose amid fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, some improvements had to be placed on hold, said Valentine. This included a new park bulletin board, a drinking fountain, and the planting of native plants.
“We will keep these items on our project list and work towards completing those in the coming years,” said Valentine.
The council adopted an amended park project plan in April of 2023 reflecting these changes. The vault toilets were completed that summer and the parking lot, storm drainage, and concrete pathway completed that fall.
Project costs continued to increase above estimates and in October of 2023 the council approved the expenditure of general fund dollars to make up any overages in the project.
In January the picnic shelter was completed. The picnic tables were installed in May. The council made a point of making sure the tables were ADA accessible and weather resistant.
Valentine said the city is “very pleased” with how the project ultimately turned out.
“It is a lasting, beautiful addition to our community,” she said.
